Establishing Your Teaching Philosophy

There is a ton of great teaching going on in the world of music education — from the youngest marching band coaches to the most seasoned educators. One common thread throughout their work is how they use their philosophy of teaching to inspire students.

In this master class, Pacific Crest’s Program Coordinator and world renowned percussion educator, Glen Crosby, talks about his current teaching philosophy: how his formative experiences shaped his ultimate philosophy, and how he infuses it throughout his teaching.

Glen has worked with some of the most successful groups in the world, including Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cadets, Carolina Crown, and Pulse Percussion. He has spent the past 35+ years teaching high schools, consulting with educators around the country, and teaching private lessons.

He notes, “I have been fortunate enough to work with, and learn from, some of the best people in the activity. I saw, first hand, that there are many ways to achieve success. And along the way, I also learned what not to do.”

Whether you are new to “the business” or a successful educator with years of experience, we hope this master class inspires you to expand your approach and continue to refine your own philosophy. As Glen says, “There’s no one way, but there’s always a better way.”

Discussion Topics:

• Putting a team together and navigating personalities
• First impressions and assessing student ability
• Creating a work ethic without having everyone quit
• The journey really is the fun, aka tricking students into loving hard work
• Dealing with challenges: staying the course or changing course
• Getting twice as much done in half the time
• Teaching pure performance
• Life Skill 101: Finishing
• Managing to inspire to excellence